Styles of front porches

60 Warm and Welcoming Front Porch Ideas

Kristin Hohenadel

Kristin Hohenadel is an interior design expert who has covered architecture, interiors, and decor trends for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Lonny, and the American and international editions of Elle Decor. She resides in Paris, France, and has traveled to over 30 countries, giving her a global perspective on home design.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 07/14/22

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

Your front porch is your home's best chance to make a good first impression. No matter how big or small it might be, whether it is showy or unassuming, and regardless of the style of architecture, your front porch deserves as much attention to design and decor as your interior space.

A front porch can function as nothing more than a pass-through space or double as a second outdoor living room. It can create a convenient landing space for comings and goings, or simply sit there looking pretty, inviting passersby to wonder what else you have going on inside.

Whether you are looking to enhance your home's curb appeal, create a welcoming portal for both you and your guests, or make life a little more pleasant for all of those hard-working delivery people who visit your doorstep every day, check out these front porches in a range of layouts and sizes that don't skimp on style for some clever ideas on how to beautify your own outdoor space.

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Add a Golden Mustard Door

Design by Studio Robert McKinley / Photo by Read McKendree

The front porch at this New England Shaker-style home in Montauk from Studio Robert McKinley is a summertime dream with its golden shingled siding, jumble of plants, and welcoming mustard yellow door.
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Create a Conversation Zone

Design by Ghislaine ViÃ±as / Photo by Garrett Rowland

If you have a large front porch, create individual zones. This sprawling Hudson Valley front porch from interior designer Ghislaine Viñas has open and accessible wrap-around sides that allow for a number of seating areas to be set up around the periphery. In one corner, a small seating area with two chairs and a table creates an intimate conversation area while leaving plenty of open space.
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Keep It Cool

Design by Raili CA Design / Photo by Becca Tilly

This open surf ranch front porch designed by Raili CA Design for Kelly Slater has a casual Southern California appeal, with reclaimed wood planters filled with matching greenery, flat wood plank flooring, and plenty of space for a bike or a surfboard.
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Decorate With Dried Flowers

Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Erin Kelly

This snow white front porch from Leanne Ford Interiors is warmed up with a few burnished accents, from the warm porch light to the welcome mat and two oversized bunches of dried flowers flanking the door.
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Zone It Off

Design by Becca Interiors

This homey Hudson River Colonial front porch from Becca Interiors has simple seating areas using traditional furniture that matches the style and black-and-white color palette of the facade. Some potted greenery sprinkled throughout softens the space but leaves the view through the neighboring porch open for admiring the water.
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Use Contrasting Colors

Design by Martha O'Hara Interiors / Photo by Spacecrafting Photography

In this front porch from Martha O'Hara Interiors, a pair of terracotta urns filled with potted plants flank a pink door that contrasts with the deep blue/greeno' siding and stone facade of the home. An adjacent seating area is accessorized with the same warm corals and pinks to tie it all together.
52 Front Door Colors to Choose From
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Keep It Simple

Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Jacob Snavely

This minimalist front porch from Chango & Co. has an open layout, slate flooring, and a pair of black Scandinavian style rocking chairs perched on either side of the front door that add a graphic element that makes the small space look finished.
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Embrace Color and Pattern

Design by Maestri Studio / Photo by Nathan Schroder

There's no point outfitting a large front porch with outdoor seating if you don't plan on using it. This front porch from Maestri Studio is styled for looks rather than function, with dramatic cement tile patterned flooring, manicured plants, and a fresh mint green paint color on the decorative double doors that adds relief to the black-and-white color palette.
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Hang Moroccan Lanterns

Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors / Photo by Julie Soefer

This Spanish-style front porch from Marie Flanigan Interiors has a simple bench and a row of perforated metal Moroccan lanterns with an aged patina that produce arresting shadows when lit.
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Use Warm Lighting

Design by Lisa Gilmore Design / Photo by Seamus Payne

When decorating your front porch be sure to install plenty of lighting evenly spread throughout the front (and sides if you have a wrap-around porch) so that it feels comfortable and relaxing in the evening, and feels welcoming for passersby and guests approaching the front door. And be sure to use warm lighting rather than harsh cool light so that it glows like this front porch from Lisa Gilmore Design.
The 8 Best Outdoor Light Bulbs of 2022 | by The Spruce
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Add Colorful Deck Chairs

Design by Searl Lamaster Howe / Photo by Tony Soluri

This retreat on the edge of a state park in central Michigan from Chicago-based Searl Lamaster Howe has a shady front porch that is clad in both untreated and charred cedar and obsidian lap siding. The porch overhang protects a stack of firewood, and a pair of rose pink deck chairs adds a warm dose of color.
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Plant an Indoor Outdoor Garden

Design by Hamsa Home

This Santa Monica new build front porch from Hamsa Home has a midcentury modern-inspired cactus garden that is carried into the front entry—separated by a large pane of glass—to create the illusion of an indoor/outdoor garden.
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Make Space For Everyone

Design by Lisa Gilmore Design / Photo by Seamus Payne

On this spacious and breezy Florida front porch from Lisa Gilmore Design, a pair of rocking chairs is accompanied by a small stylish daybed that assures that every last member of the family has a comfortable place to hang out and while away a summer afternoon.
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Use A Bold Color Accent

Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Sarah Elliott

This modern farmhouse in upstate New York from NYC-based Chango & Co. has bright cherry red double doors that add punch to the black and white porch. Matching black rocking chairs with red-and-black check throw pillows, red side tables and gray throw blankets and a pair of sconce lights make it inviting and practical.
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Add Sculptural Seating

Design by Studio Robert McKinley / Photo by Nicole Franzen

This light and airy front porch from Studio Robert McKinley has sculptural seating and casual landscaping that carries onto the steps with potted plants and onto the porch with hanging planters that help fill the empty space without blocking sightlines.
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Paint the Furniture

Design by AHG Interiors / Photo by Nick Glimenakis

This Cape Cod style home from AHG Interiors has a small and cozy front porch with stone pavers on the floor that match the walkway. A small bench painted in the same navy shade as the siding blends into the background, providing function while maintaining an uncluttered look.
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Use Your Words

Design by Raili CA Design / Photo by Karyn Millet

You can add personality to your front porch with just a few small decor moves. This front porch from Raili CA Design has a white stenciled lowercase greeting on the wooden steps and a sculptural olive tree that casts alluring shadows against the clean white facade, creating a memorable signature that doesn't detract from the minimalist vibes.
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Scale It Up

Design by Heather Hilliard Design / Photo by David Duncan Livingston

This monumental high-ceilinged front porch from Heather Hilliard Design is filled out with a pair of large-scale potted plants that add balance and make the imposing facade softer and more welcoming.
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Send a Message

Design by Christina Kim Interior Design / Photo by Raquel Langworthy

Leafy palm plants and a surfboard leaning up in the corner of this front porch from Christina Kim Interior Design set the tone for this coastal Sea Girt, New Jersey home.
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Add Double Porch Swings

Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Sarah Elliott

This spacious front porch from Chango & Co. has a pair of hanging porch swings on either side of the front door that add symmetry and extra seating.
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Use Modern Furniture

Design by Martha O'Hara Interiors / Photo by Andrea Calo

This front porch from Martha O'Hara Interiors has modern furniture and a large potted cactus that creates a seating area that works with the style of the home.
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Emulate Victorian Style

Design and Photo by Sandra Foster

This 125-square-foot Victorian-style cottage in the Catskills of New York from Sandra Foster has an open and airy front porch with delicate turned painted wood columns that gives the miniature space some extra breathing room.
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Create a Reading Area

My 100 Year Old Home

Blogger Leslie Saeta of My 100 Year Old Home outfitted the front porch of her Waco, Texas vacation rental home with a double outdoor living room on either side of the double glass front doors, allowing guests to relax and admire the view of a giant oak tree. The black-and-white palette mixed with the raw wood flooring of the front porch is true to the home's modern farmhouse style.
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Use French Doors

Design by Allison Babcock Design / Photo by Matt Kisiday

The front porch entrance to a historic restoration and design project in Nantucket, Massachusetts from Allison Babcock Design has glass-paned French doors and simple painted white railings that contrast with the shingle siding. The porch itself isn't big enough for a seating area, but a pair of plants in navy pots flanking either side of the wide entry steps creates a sense of welcoming, and double porch lights ensure that the entry is well lit after dark.
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Accessorize It Like a Living Room

Design and Photo by Sho and Co.

This front porch from Sho and Co. was designed to feel like an extension of the interior, with modern, clean-lined furniture and seating upholstered in soft fabrics grouped in an intimate conversation area. Greenery in modern planters that can be switched out seasonally and some oversized outdoor vases that are heavy enough to withstand winds add to the indoor-outdoor look.
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Mix Old and New

Design by BASE Landscape Architecture

This elegant front porch from BASE Landscape Architecture has classic proportions, painted moldings, arched windows, and a retro pendant light. A pair of simple pale wood benches on opposite sides add a modern touch and a practical space for resting a farmers market haul, putting on shoes, or waiting for the locksmith to arrive when you lock yourself out of the house.
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Add Can Lights

Design by Brophy Interiors

This front porch from Laura Brophy Interiors has a small overhang with built-in can lights that save space on the limited facade and allow for a larger window. A simple wooden bench offers extra seating.
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Add Curtains

Design by Martha O'Hara Interiors / Photo by Corey Gaffer

This spacious front porch from Martha O'Hara Interiors is equipped with billowy white curtains that can be tied back as seen here or closed to provide shade or privacy from onlookers.
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Line the Stairs With Potted Plants
The Spruce / Lisa Hallett Taylor
This Orange County, California front porch is filled with pots of purple, white, and blue flowering plants and garden sculptures that extend to the front steps, giving it a lived in feel.
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Add Black and White Stripes

Thistlewood Farms

Blogger KariAnne Wood of Thistlewood Farms chose a black-and-white striped outdoor rug to jazz up her front porch, accenting with planters and baskets full of bright fuschia flowers.
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Move Things Around

Design by Christina Kim Interior Design / Photo by Raquel Langworthy

Playing around with the style and placement of your home's street number is one of the practical and aesthetic decisions you can make about the design of your front porch. On this Sea Girt, New Jersey front porch from Christina Kim Interior Design, the street number is placed beneath the front door in a way that mimics the way some cities mark street numbers on the curb, making it visible to visitors as they approach the short flight of steps up from the winding front yard walkway.
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Keep It Open

Design by Lindye Galloway Studio + Shop

While your front porch design should feel comfortable to use and welcoming for friends and visitors, if your front porch is visible from the street, you should also consider what the view is like for passersby. This front porch from Lindye Galloway Studio + Shop has an open format and a seating area that includes a hanging porch swing and two chairs in neutral tones that blend into the home's facade and front landscaping for a manicured modern look.
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Try a Faux Painted Floor Runner

Thistlewood Farms

This faux painted floor runner in a classic checkerboard pattern from blogger KariAnne Wood of Thistlewood Farms adds some graphic black-and-white punch to her modern farmhouse front porch.
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Blue Door

Design by Mindy Gayer Design Co.

This spacious Costa Mesa, California front porch from Mindy Gayer Design Co. has an open design and symmetrical matching seating arrangements on either side of the blue front door.
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Add Hanging Plants

A Beautiful Mess

This front porch from A Beautiful Mess has a hanging swing that anchors a small outdoor seating area, while a row of hanging plants add a virtual green screen that virtually separates the cozy space from the neighboring house.
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Make It Graphic

Most Lovely Things

This front porch from Most Lovely Things has a comfortable outdoor living room decorated with a striped rug and patterned throw pillows in a black-and-white palette that modernizes the space.
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Tile the Steps

Design by Studio Surface / Photo by Jenny Siegwart

This tiny front porch from interior designer Michelle Salz-Smith of Studio Surface is more of a landing space, but graphic tiled steps that are visible once you open the gate is a stylish surprise that makes it feel decorated and finished.
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Add Cozy Accessories

Inspired By Charm

This front porch from Inspired By Charm has a wooden bench accessorized with a long pillow with a crocheted cover and a light striped throw, making it a cozy perch to enjoy a morning coffee and wave at the neighbors.
The 12 Best Places to Buy Outdoor Patio Furniture of 2022 | by The Spruce
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Light It Up

Design by Martha O'Hara Interiors / Photo by Andrea Calo

This Texas front porch from Martha O'Hara Interiors has minimal seating that blends into the background, and powerful porch lights that illuminate the facade after dark.
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Accessorize Your Porch Swing

Design by Lisa Gilmore Design / Photo by Seamus Payne

This dramatic modern black porch swing from Lisa Gilmore Design is hung from long black chains and accessorized with patterned throw pillows that gives it a contemporary look.
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Add a Dutch Door

Design by Mindy Gayer Design Co.

The star of this small front porch from Mindy Gayer Design Co. is a pale blue Dutch door whose open top allows air to flow into the house and makes visitors feel welcome on arrival.
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Embrace Symmetry

Design by Lisa Gilmore Design / Photo by Seamus Payne

This front porch from Lisa Gilmore Design uses simple furniture and potted plants to create a simple, symmetrical front porch that looks polished and timeless.
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Make It Patio Style

Design by Mindy Gayer Design Co.

This front porch from Mindy Gayer Design Co. is more of a patio than a porch. But positioned at the front of the home it is styled like a front porch with a seating area that is accessible from double French doors on the facade a step up from the adjacent front door.
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Add Tropical Vibes

Casa Watkins Living

This festive front porch from Casa Watkins Living has the same tropical colors and maximalist approach to accessorizing as the interior of the home.
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Paint the Steps

Design by Charles Almonte Architecture / Interior Design

Charles Almonte Architecture / Interior Design created a sense of presence on this small front porch by using deep red paint accents. Warm porch lighting and plants in raised planters on the porch and at the base of steps adds polish and a sense of occasion to a modest space.
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Add a Floral Element

Design by Maite Granda

This covered front porch from Maite Granda isn't largely visible from the outside, but flowering vines in a vivid purple climbing the white facade adds softness and a welcoming feel.
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Stick the Landing

Design by Maite Granda

This Florida front porch from interior designer Maite Granda is more of a landing, a place to get some fresh air while sheltering yourself from the beating sun, or shake yourself off after a Florida downpour before going inside. A glass and metal pendant light gives the covered front porch a room-like quality while providing even lighting after dark.
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Add Some Art

Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Amy Neunsinger

Not every front porch faces the street, but you should still mark the entry point to your home. This front porch from Leanne Ford Interiors has a casual off-road feel with its white seating area, black lantern, and simple wood-framed print hanging by the door.
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Embrace Open Space

Design by Maite Granda

If you know you're not going to use your front porch as an extra living space, feel free to keep it bare. Just be sure that it doesn't look neglected and add a touch of decor if needed so it looks like someone lives there. Interior designer Maite Granda took a minimalist approach to this spacious Florida front porch, adding a pair of topiaries on the landing and two steps up that makes the empty space look intentional.
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Add a Bistro Table

Design by AHG Interiors / Photo by Nick Glimenakis

This 10x12-foot Catskills, New York tiny house from AHG Interiors has a generous open front porch that creates extra outdoor living space when weather permits. Classic decor choices and a tangle of climbing ivy create a lush, romantic setting.
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Use Vintage Pieces

Design by Chamberlain Interior / Photo by Kacey Gilpin

A hanging porch swing, vintage style rattan chairs, and a mix of blue and green throw pillows give this small front porch from Chamberlain Interior an easy natural feel that invites lingering and conversation.
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Paint the Door Pink

Design by White Sand Design Build

This cheerful Venice Beach, California Spanish-style bungalow from White Sand Design Build has black-and-white patterned floor tiles, a tall drought-friendly cactus, blond wood frame posts, and a candy-colored pink door that spreads the positive Southern California vibes.
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Echo the Interior

Design by Michelle Berwick Designs

Well groomed topiaries, a black-and-white palette, and a small seating area give this suburban front porch from Michelle Berwick Designs a sense of polish and grandeur that echoes the interior that is largely visible through the glass windows.
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Use Warm Finishes

Design by Tyler Karu

The small front landing on this modern Maine house designed by Tyler Karu has warm wood cladding, a casual assortment of house plants, and a vibrant coral-colored front door.
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Keep It Traditional

Design by Michelle Berwick Designs

A completely renovated early 1900s farmhouse from Michelle Berwick Designs preserved original features like the classic small front porch, which is furnished minimally with some rattan seating and a warm sconce light.
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Be Yourself

A Beautiful Mess

Your front porch is an opportunity to reflect your sensibilities and highlight your personality. A welcome mat saying "Howdy" on this front porch from A Beautiful Mess sets the tone and puts guests at ease.
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Dress It Simply

Blanco Bungalow

This breezy Spanish-style front porch from Blanco Bungalow is located on the side of the house, with a glossy black door flanked with a mismatched pair of plants, a natural door mat, and an industrial style sconce to give it a casual but polished modern feel.
The 9 Best Doormats of 2022 | Tested by The Spruce
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Fill Empty Space With Plants

Design by Kate Marker Interiors

There's nothing wrong with some empty space on a front porch, but you can make a small front porch feel bigger and cozier by filling up blank space with plants, like this front porch from Kate Marker Interiors.
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Create an Oasis

Design and Photo by Julian Porcino

This Spanish-style Los Angeles front porch Julian Porcino is more like a covered patio that opens onto a private courtyard. But just because your space isn't visible from the street doesn't mean it shouldn't be decorated and outfitted for use. Here, a wire chair and matching side table placed under the arched facade, scattered plants, and a pair of outdoor sconces create a private spot for morning coffee or an after-dinner drink.
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Skip the Welcome Mat

Design by A. Naber Design / Photo by Jenny Siegwart

This small, deep front porch from A. Naber Design is big enough to house the mailbox and could have been a forgettable space. But a graphic black-and-white tile floor in place of a welcome mat and a large wind chime hung on the periphery add just enough attention to make it memorable instead.

50 Charming Front Porch Ideas

Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

Outdoor oasis, here we come.

By Hadley Mendelsohn

Feb 24, 2022

Joe Schmelzer

Remember Allie Hamilton's wrap-around porch in The Notebook? We've had a thing for porches ever since we saw it, and while we may not have our very own Noah to build us one from scratch, we do have a few more ideas to share with you. In fact, these designer and landscaper–approved back and front porches would elevate an outdoor oasis even more than Nicholas Spark's imaginary one did. Comfortable, stylish swings? Check. Mood lighting? Check. Ability to stand up to Mother Nature? Check. Now just add a good book and refreshing cocktail, and you've got a getaway that's just a step outside your front door. Get inspired by the 45 picturesque porches below.

Read McKendree

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Frame Windows and Screens with Paint

Bella Mancini enlivened this screen door and its wood frame with Santa Clara by Benjamin Moore. The color feels right at home with cedar shake and hydrangeas but has a note of distinct cheerfulness.

Victoria Pearson

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Build a Secure Closet for Packages

Between all the online orders and foot traffic, a secure spot for deliveries and accessories (like umbrellas) is more essential than ever. A delivery closet on the porch of our Whole Home Concept House 2018 even had a garment rack for dry cleaning.

James McDonald

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...or Just Stash Them In a Dresser

An antique dresser on a porch is the perfect place to have delivery drivers stash packages. Nicola Harding treated this one like it's in a grand foyer, embellishing it with plants, artwork, and lighting.

Karyn Millet

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Create Cover With a Small Awning

Mix-and-match tiles aren't just for your interiors—they add instant intrigue to a front porch. Here, Sharon Lee alternated patterns on the step risers for an unexpected dose of personality. A custom awning in Sunbrella fabric provides a hint of shade.

Paul Costello

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Consider a Breezeway

From the outside, this green breezeway—which doubles as a flower-arranging room and was designed by Rebecca Vizard—makes a strong first impression, and the garden flowers pop against the gravel and tile path leading to the front door. To pull this off in your own home, keep it ground level and opt for a partially covered walk-through space instead of an elevated porch.

Paul Raeside

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Make It Cheerful

Potted sunflowers and plaid throw pillows on the garden bench align nicely with the quaint feel of the stone exterior home by Shazalynn Winfrey.

Phoebe Howard

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Disguise Tech Features

The rounded door is framed by bougainvillea, giving the front porch entrance to this home by Phoebe Howard. secret garden vibe. Colorful blooms also distract the eye from the high-tech keypad over the door handle.

Tamsin Johnson Interiors

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Build In Your Garden

A built-in garden bed is bursting with succulents, the ideal match for a modern home exterior. They're just tall enough to enhance privacy without totally blocking the view from the living room designed by Tamsin Johnson.

Emily Followill

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Tease a Color

This shade of blue paint was used throughout the home designed by Meredith McBrearty, so the front porch sets the tone for what lies ahead (and cools of the brick and warm tones in the entryway!).

Joe Schmelzer

10 of 56

Hook Up a Water Feature

Designed by Cuff Home, this porch has major curb appeal. From the black shutters to the turquoise front door, and manicured hedges. But what really sets it apart is the fountain, since water features always create unbeatable zen energy.

William Abranowicz

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Go Porchless

This modern stunner designed by Kathleen McCormick speaks for itself. The concrete steps, blue door, and steel and glass facade need no introduction.

THOMAS LOOF

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Scatter Seating Areas

Setting up multiple sitting areas will help you accommodate more people while also ensuring you get more use out of the space. To spruce things up, consider painting the columns, ceiling, and balustrades a fun color. Designer Amanda Reynal chose a mossy green hue for this nature-inspired porch.

Romanek Design Studio

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Optimize It With Lighting

If you want to be able to safely enjoy your backyard once the sun goes down, make sure you've optimized it with integrated lighting in the steps and sconces on the exterior of the home, as Romanek Design Studio did here. It'll also just make your life easier when coming and going.

Abney Morton

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Set Up an Herb Garden

Step up your style and cooking game by arranging a mini nursery or herb garden on the porch. Here, Abney Morton Interiors propped some pots of herbs up on a console table by the hanging swing.

Stephen Karlisch

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Keep It Simple

This Texas home designed by Jean Liu strikes the balance between natural beauty and practicality, perfect for its urban environment. The key: Pavers that complement the home's exterior material with a few trees and planting beds. Then, there's a slim overhang for extra lighting creating a more decorative impression over the front porch.

Trevor Tondro

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Truck It Away

Madeline Stuart gives this SoCal home by architects Wallace Neff and John Byers a sense of place with agave plants flanking the entrance and blooming bougainvillea spilling over the wall. Though the front porch isn't visible from the street entrance, it still has plenty of curb appeal.

Eliza Carter

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Secure It With a Gate

Create the illusion of extra privacy (and an extra safety barrier for toddlers and pets) in a city home with an iron-wrought gate. They're a natural fit for Victorians and brownstones, like Eliza Carter's NYC home featured here.

Max Kim-Bee

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Screen It In

There are so many cozy window seats in this 1890s carriage house that it's hard for interior designer Lisa Tharp to keep track, and the screened porch is no exception. Overlooking the green New England countryside, it's a beautiful setting for a screened porch. Wherever your porch is, adding screens will keep the bugs out while still letting the breeze in so you can enjoy the best of both worlds.

JESSIE PREZA

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Spotlight a Motif

Flank the stairs to your front porch with stone sculptures shaped like a motif that speaks to your family or locality. On his Jacksonville, Florida, front porch, designer Fitz Pullins chose these fun pineapple-shaped sculptures in a corresponding stone material so they both pop and blend in.

Romanek Design Studio

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Treat It Like a Mudroom

Secure some hooks and slide in a bench or a pair of chairs to let your beach and pool gear dry instead of dripping throughout the house. Think of it as an outdoor mudroom. Romanek Design Studio opted for casual, minimalist furniture and decor for an understated, stylish impression in this Malibu home.

VICTORIA PEARSON

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Add a Fireplace

If your porch is large enough, add a fireplace and television so it can function as an outdoor family or living room. Take a cue from this leafy open-air porch designed by Sherry Hart and Jennifer Jones Condon and built by Ladisic Fine Homes.

Peti Lau

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Install Cameras

Install extra security, like a camera, but be sure to camouflage it into the surrounding environment. In this modern home by Peti Lau, the polished concrete flooring and wooden materials blend in with the surroundings and feel connected to the natural landscape, so you hardly even notice the little camera in the corner.

THOMAS LOOF

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Go Island-Inspired

When Clos-ette founder Melanie Fowler hired friend (and House Beautiful Next Wave designer) Caroline Rafferty to make over her Palm Beach house, she brought one major piece of inspo: The famously chic Lyford Cay Club in the Bahamas, which Rafferty wove in through the house's pale-pink exterior and treillage-inspired woodwork. The lush surroundings were executed by landscape designer Fernando Wong.

JESSIE PREZA

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Hang a Bird Feeder

Pavers lead to this elevated front porch on a property designed by Krystal Matthews. While the understated planters and sweet-swinging bench certainly help set the mood, the details framing the area help, too, like the bird feeder hanging from a tree.

AP Design House

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Weather-Proof It

Enjoy your outdoor space rain or shine with details that can stand up to the elements. AP Design House weatherproofed this porch by adding timeless and design-forward Bermuda shutters and galvanized steel corrugated panels overhead.

Jane Beiles

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Add Shutters

Another way to weather-proof? Add the appropriate shutters. Here, Charlotte Barnes opted for classic shutters with slat-like louvers on the windows as well as Bahama shutters that attach from the top of the opening between the columns and open like an awning. They'll protect your porch from heavy tropical wind and rain while the hardware and paint color can add some aesthetic perks.

PHOTO: Tom Ferguson; DESIGN: Arent & Pyke

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Lay Graphic Floor Tiles

A graphic floor tile will personalize your front porch just enough. Take a cue from this design by Arent & Pyke, where a planter introduces greenery and an outdoor chair adds a dash of color. Clean, simple, and classic.

Joshua McHugh

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Keep It Open

If your front porch features a little alcove like this one designed by Raji RM, maintain the open airflow with a cutout or two that mimic the rest of the home's windows. Then add a bench to make it easier to get everything sorted as you come and go.

THOMAS LOOF

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Let Nature Take Center Stage

Looking out at the sea ahead and draped in a canopy of tropical plants, this porch features minimal decor, allowing us to focus on the natural environment. Instead of a sitting area, there's a casual dining nook for al fresco meals.

PHOTO: Scott Hargis DESIGN: Regan Baker Design

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Make It Cozy

This back porch by Regan Baker Design is a perfect private spot to unwind in. To make it conducive to entertaining, bring in large outdoor floor cushions for additional floor seating.

65 Chic Patio Ideas to Try in Your Own Backyard

Hadley Mendelsohn Senior Editor Hadley Mendelsohn is House Beautiful's senior design editor and the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House.

at the dacha, at home, styles, furniture, curtains, lighting

They say that the theater begins with a hanger, and the impression of the house is formed on the veranda. Therefore, the design of even a small summer extension should be thoughtful: both beautiful and functional. And the design of the veranda in the country is no less important than in a private house. Moreover, you can cope with such a task with your own hands: we will try to throw ideas in the form of numerous photos.

First of all, let's talk about the general directions in which verandas are most often designed. Styles can be different, but almost all of them have an ethnic direction: Provence, Russian hut, Mediterranean, Oriental, etc. All of them involve the presence of products made of wood or other natural materials - rattan, bamboo. These elements are present both in the design of walls and ceilings, and in furniture. Then everything will look harmonious.

If we talk about the color design, then basically these are soft pastel colors, the closest to the colors of nature. Why in the main? Because a few bright color spots are not only allowed, but also desirable. They enliven the picture without violating the overall harmony.

Contents of the article

1 How to arrange a veranda: choosing a style
2 Veranda furniture
3 Flowers in the veranda interior
4 Curtains
5 Veranda lighting

How to furnish a veranda: choosing a style

So how do you choose the style that best suits your occasion? First of all, the choice of style is influenced by the location. If it faces north or east, the British colonial style will look better. It includes a rocking chair as a mandatory attribute, as well as wicker rattan furniture.

If you want to completely recreate such an interior, you can lay out a fireplace. On a closed veranda, it will also serve for its heating. It can be kindled at dusk on cool evenings. When creating an interior, do not forget about the only main wall in this room: the decoration of the veranda includes its design. The wall is often painted in the prevailing tone, sometimes, if it is appropriate and fits into the idea, it is trimmed with stone.

So that a decent area is not empty, shelves, flower holders, decorative elements - panels, lamps can be hung on it.

If the veranda is facing south or east, it will have a lot of sunlight. Such rooms are well decorated in the Provence style. It is characterized by beams on the ceiling, natural furniture in light colors with some color accents. Curtains pick up very light translucent. From furniture, in addition to chairs, there is a table, there may be flowers in pots and vases.

The style itself is very diverse and can be "ceremonial", prim and very sophisticated, or rural. In the photo on the right, this “rural” part of it is greatly exaggerated, but the interior benefits from this.

Vintage is always in fashion at any time: elements of different styles, deliberate negligence, behind which lies subtle calculation and careful processing. Ostromoden recently loft style. Decorating a veranda in this style will require you to show imagination and unusual techniques. For example, you will not need to plaster a brick wall, leveling it, but toning it, revealing its heterogeneity and dissimilarity even more. In this way, disadvantages turn into advantages. In order not to make a mistake, and to fill your hand, practice on some other piece of the wall, for example, in a change house or a shed. When the idea takes shape exactly and what you got suits you, you can apply the acquired skills on the main wall.

As you probably understood, the main task when decorating the veranda is not to overload the room too much. It is usually small, and there should be few items here. Therefore, furniture is carefully chosen: so that it is not bulky, comfortable and reliable.

If you are not happy with all the traditional styles, you can try to decorate the veranda in a modern one. From the same materials and furniture, but in a different combination and layout, you can get a completely different interior. For example, supporting columns can be made, as in the photo below, to arrange low modern furniture. The railing is the same style (as in the photo), a possible option is made of tempered glass or polycarbonate.

Almost the same veranda is played differently: the columns are dressed in stone, the same decoration is repeated on the walls of the house.

How to attach a veranda to a house read here.

Veranda furniture

Veranda - a place of rest. And rest involves the presence of armchairs and chairs. If you are decorating a country veranda, then it is not at all necessary to buy new ones. Such summer dwellings are good because you can put old chairs in them, just transform them: repaint them in an unusual color or sew covers. They transform instantly, and give the room coziness. What is most attractive in this solution: it is easy to change the color, and hence the atmosphere in the room. Read here how to redesign old furniture.

In the same way, you can transform old armchairs and couches. Only in addition to the new cover will have to make a lot of pillows. Nothing is conducive to relaxation, like a low small sofa or a cozy armchair, littered with pillows.

Separately, it is worth mentioning tables and tables. If you plan to eat on the veranda, you can’t do without a dining table, albeit a small one, as well as without chairs or benches near it. If this is only a recreation area with low couches (as in the photo above), then the table is set low, the tabletop is on the same level with the seats.

Solid sofas are also installed, but only the area should be appropriate. You remember that the room should not be overloaded with furniture. And although the light colors of the upholstery can slightly improve the situation, there should not be too much furniture: there are sofas, which means there are no chairs, maybe only one or two, or a rocking chair.

Of the traditional pieces of furniture, that's all. Shelves that are hung on the wall of the building can also be used. If there is a blank end wall, it can be turned into a shelf on which to place all the little things you need on vacation.

You can read about making a small (and large) table or floor fountain here.

Flowers in the interior of the veranda

The design of the veranda in the country house may include flowers or plants in pots. In the summer there are probably a lot of them under the window, but having them inside will not worsen the situation at all.

Read about the basics of landscape design here.

Curtains

Curtains for outdoor verandas can only be used if the roof overhang is very long - more than half a meter. Then the summer showers will not spoil them much. There are no such restrictions in closed verandas. In the photo below, the fabric is additionally protected by columns. If necessary, the curtains are stretched along a baguette nailed under the ceiling. A great way to isolate yourself from everyone if you want privacy.

When choosing a color, there are two approaches:

repeating the tone of the accent color, as in the photo above;
are light, light, translucent, which will not burden the interior.

Light curtains on the veranda are the easiest to coordinate. With them, finishing the veranda will not be problematic. You need to choose the right fabric. Synthetic fibers are more suitable here: they are less capricious in care and, despite the fact that they are synthetic, they pass air well.

Roller blinds or Roman blinds are less romantic, but no less attractive. Ceremonial fabrics are useless here, but something more practical is very handy: the illumination during the day is easy to adjust, the wind almost does not shake them.

Bamboo curtains can be used for outdoor verandas. They are not afraid of rain. They will not completely protect against splashes, but the amount of water that has got inside, as well as the wind, will be significantly reduced. Bamboo curtains can rightfully be called "outdoor".

For those who want to completely protect the open annex from precipitation, there are curtains made of PVC film. They are sewn like awnings for cars, but mostly transparent films are used. Their tailoring must be ordered, accurately measuring the required dimensions.

Veranda lighting

Finishing a veranda is not complete without lighting. For open verandas, lamps are used that belong to the "street" class. They have increased water resistance and higher impact resistance. The protection class of such lighting equipment cannot be lower than IP44. It is indicated on a sticker on the back of the lamp or is in the passport. Devices with lower protection can be used in a closed glazed veranda, but outdoors, the numbers must be at least 44 (you can also 45, 55).

After clarifying the technical details, we will find out where lighting fixtures can be installed on the veranda. Traditional seat ceiling. You can use flat ceiling lights. This is necessary if your ceiling is lined with something and its height is about 2-2.5 meters. At a higher height, you can already install hanging lighting fixtures, but there are not so many of them with the required degree of protection.

With the advent of LED recessed ceiling lamps, veranda lighting has become much easier, while it is brighter, more expressive, consumes less electricity. Their only drawback: relatively high cost, since a lot of small lamps are required.

They can have different scattering angles: create a directed stream of light or diffused. They are available in different colors and sizes. During the day, they are almost invisible, they do not decorate the interior in any way, but they do not spoil it either. But at night everything changes.

Open porch lighting is often done on the railing. Here you can install both lamps with conventional or economical lamps, as well as LED ones. Craftsmen can generally mount LED lighting into the railings themselves.

Lamps for the veranda are often mounted on the wall of the house. This is convenient: you don’t need to pull the wiring far and usually there are no problems with installation. To make the lighting more even, several pieces in the same style can be installed on columns or on the ceiling. In the area that needs to be better illuminated. The picture below is the table. Above it, in addition to the wall lights, ceiling light sources were added.

An interesting effect is created by lamps on columns directed inwards. They seem to cut off the darkness outside the illuminated area, creating a sense of solitude. Such lighting of the veranda is easy to make: put directional spotlights or other similar lighting devices.

Closed veranda design

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Glazed veranda is a great opportunity to expand the space and enjoy beautiful views all year round, while being in a warm and comfortable environment.

And what could be better than gathering with the whole family by the fireplace on the veranda with hot tea, talking and watching the falling snow? Or in the warm season, stay late in the evening with a company of guests in the recreation area located on the veranda and enjoy the sunset?

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0002 A veranda is an area attached to the house, consisting of load-bearing beams and a roof. Being an organic continuation of your home, however, the design of the veranda implies a certain isolation from the rest of the living space.

This transitional space between home and garden is the perfect place for summer parties, Sunday breakfasts with the family or leisurely coffee conversations with visiting friends from the city.

Contents:

Veranda materials

In addition to the firmly leading wood and stone, home owners often use modern materials in the arrangement of the veranda: polycarbonate and composite sheets. They are moisture- and heat-resistant, wear-resistant and have high heat-saving properties. A great option for designing a warm veranda.

Styles

Often the interior of the extension veranda is made in the same style and from the same materials as the house itself, however, being still a separate room, you can safely equip it to your taste by mixing textures.

Ethnic motifs close to nature are perfect for decorating the veranda of the house. It is in them that the lion's share of the interiors of country verandas is made.

The general pastel range, delicate floral and animal prints, the use of natural materials: linen, bamboo, wood, rattan - will organically echo the landscape of the backyard or garden and support the natural theme in general.

Any of the following styles is perfect for arranging the veranda of a private house.

Mediterranean

Ascetic, but comfortable, this style is a fusion of 15 ethnic groups living on the Mediterranean coast - from the south of France to Morocco. White walls reflecting the sultry rays of the sun, light flying textiles, a minimum of furniture and details, large windows and high doorways - all this will perfectly fit into the interior of an open veranda.

This is first of all rustic comfort, charm and naivety. Homemade or hand-embroidered doilies, unenamelled pots, patchwork quilts, a whitewashed ceiling and walls in a small floral pattern - this veranda will be a great place for quiet cozy gatherings.

Scandinavian

Laconic, devoid of pretentious luxury, Scandinavian style is perfect for arranging a glazed porch on the north or west side of the house. High practicality and functionality of furniture with Scandinavian style colors will appeal to calm and restrained natures.

A country house is a dream for those who cannot live without nature. Eco-style is a dream for those who want to live in harmony with nature. Natural materials with an accentuated natural texture, an abundance of plants - pots, tubs or even panels of living loach or stabilized moss - as well as massive furniture made of rough boards or even snags and stumps will organically complement the interior of a country house veranda.

Combining the best features of the East and the West, the colonial style coexists perfectly in the home of the most controversial natures. Born in the 19th century on the territory of the English colonies in different parts of the world, this style appeared as a result of a fusion of the traditional way of life of the islanders and the borrowed characteristics of the life of Old England.

This style is flexible, adaptable, patchy and rough, but nevertheless solid and respectable. The interior of the veranda of a country house, made in the colonial style, can be used in tandem with almost any other style.

To glaze the veranda or not?

Outdoor verandas have more light and air, they are cheaper and easier to build. As boundaries, it will be enough to install a railing around the perimeter of the platform or even plant a climbing plant, which will gradually create a hedge itself.

However, polycarbonate or glazed verandas are not afraid of rain and wind, they can be used as a winter garden or an additional dining room from mid-spring to mid-autumn - in the absence of heating - or all year round.

In addition, glazing is often used as an additional design technique: huge French windows overlooking the garden, dormer windows built into the roof slope, shutters or sliding windows - all this creates additional three-dimensional lighting of your veranda, gives it coziness and gentle glow.

How to use the veranda?

There are many options for using the veranda. At your discretion, you can place here

a guest room,
dining room or additional outdoor summer kitchen,
living room with fireplace, banquet table and comfortable chairs,
cozy workshop,
winter garden.

In any case, it should be remembered that interior items should be proportionate to the area of the room, then the interior of even the smallest veranda will turn out to be harmonious, cozy and functional.

If you decide to turn the veranda into an additional summer kitchen, take care of the sewerage and gas and water supply in advance, do not forget about the insulation of the pipeline.

How to furnish?

Wicker furniture

Wicker furniture made of straw, branches, rattan, vines will ideally fit into the design of the veranda of a country house. It is light, and it can be quickly removed in case of rain, it does not deform from moisture and dries quickly, does not grow moldy.

Textile

The hammock will perfectly fit into the interior of the open veranda. By the way, it is textiles in all its manifestations that will domesticate and ennoble the interior of the veranda. Take care of the details: tablecloths, chair covers, fabric Roman blinds, pillows. However, do not forget that after all, the veranda, especially the open one, is more outdoor than home, so it is better to store blankets, pillows, blankets and tablecloths, say, in a large chest-bench in the hallway.

Fireplace

Another strong argument in favor of country life and a great option for a summer veranda that is not connected to central heating is a fireplace. In addition to its direct function, it will fill the room with spiritual, metaphorical, warmth, comfort and peace. The view of the fire and the crackle of the coals are romantic and give peace to you and your guests.

Decor

Also in the interior of a country house, tapestry or wooden panels on the walls and ceramic plates with ethnic patterns, earthenware jugs and floor vases, figurines made of wood, stone and polymers will look great.

Plants

Regardless of the style and direction, the design of the veranda will very organically fit plants - potted or garden, planted around the perimeter, braiding the walls with a natural wall.

You can create your own little jungle or limit yourself to one majestic ficus, you can enclose the platform of the veranda with a wooden picket fence and let the bindweed draw its patterns on it freely, or you can grow mint, lemon balm, rosemary directly in tubs. Then fragrant smells of fresh greenery will soar on your veranda.

Terrace design in a country house: (50+ photos)

The impression of the house begins to take shape even on the veranda. Therefore, the design of even a small summer extension should be thoughtful: both beautiful and functional. And the design of the veranda in the country is no less important than in a private house. Moreover, you can cope with such a task with your own hands: we will try to throw ideas in the form of numerous photos.

How to furnish a veranda: choosing a style

Wicker furniture is an attribute of country life

So that a decent area is not empty, shelves, flower holders, decorative elements - panels, lamps can be hung on it.

The fireplace will completely recreate the colonial style and will also warm you in the evenings.

The design of a veranda in the Provence style can be different: very prim and very rustic

This is also Provence style. And so you can design your veranda

Vintage is always in fashion at any time: elements of different styles, deliberate negligence, behind which lies subtle calculation and careful processing. Ostromoden recently loft style. Decorating a veranda in this style will require you to show imagination and unusual techniques. For example, you will not need to plaster a brick wall, leveling it, but toning it, revealing its heterogeneity and dissimilarity even more. In this way, disadvantages turn into advantages. In order not to be mistaken, and to fill your hand, practice on some other piece of the wall, for example, in a change house or a barn. When the idea takes shape exactly and what you got suits you, you can apply the acquired skills on the main wall.

The design of a veranda may include elements with an accentuated non-ideal surface

As you probably understood, the main task when designing a veranda is not to overload the room too much. It is usually small, and there should be few items here. Therefore, furniture is carefully chosen: so that it is not bulky, comfortable and reliable.

If you are not happy with all the traditional styles, you can try to decorate the veranda in a modern one. From the same materials and furniture, but in a different combination and layout, you can get a completely different interior. For example, support columns can be made, as in the photo below, to arrange low modern furniture. The railing is the same style (as in the photo), a possible option is tempered glass or polycarbonate.

The whole highlight of this interior of the veranda of a country house is in the unusual design of columns and railings.

How to arrange a veranda in a house in a modern style